I've been tying flies for a few weeks now, and I've tied a fair number of wooly buggers and clouser minnows in a few colors. It seems like those two patterns mght be all I will need as far as streamers.

I'm thinking about tying a scuplin pattern, but haven't decided on one yet. I'm also aware of patterns like the muddler minnow, and other "classic" streamers, but they seem like they'd be hard to tie, and would require a lot of feathers and things that I don't have. Also, I haven't purchased any deer hair yet, so I'm putting off tying the muddler minnow...

Is it worth tying other streamer patterns? It seems like streamer patterns probably aren't like nymph or dry fly patterns - you're never really "matching the hatch" with streamers. Just throwing something that looks and moves somewhat like a baitfish, or possibly a crayfish.

edit: I'm mostly interested in streamers for trout, but am also interested in bass streamer patterns.

The picket pin is a classic, well proven wet fly pattern that I usually tie on either longer shank nymph or streamer hooks. All you need to tie the picket pin is: brown hackle (or any color you may have on hand), peacock herl and gray squirrell tail hair. The peacock herl and palmered hackle can both be a bit fragile (because your gonna catch fish on this fly) so I like to reinforce over the whole body with counter wrapped light copper ultra wire. Throw a beadhead on it and fill in the gap between the bead and wing with black peacock ice dub to shake things up a little as a variation.Also, when tying my Wooly Buggers I have gone almost exclusively to using dumbbell eyes (tied Clouser style) and using rabbit strip tails in place of the marabou tail. They are absolutely deadly on both trout and bass (and any other species of fish that feels like eating something that looks too good to pass up). Hold on to your rod because the takes are for real! Good luck with your fishing and tying.

The slumpbuster looks good. I'll have to try it. The grey ghost is a beautiful fly, but isn't it also pretty delicate? I feel like if I caught a fish or two on it the whole thing would start to fall apart. Also I'd need to pick up a few additional materials....

jeremymcon wrote:I've been tying flies for a few weeks now, and I've tied a fair number of wooly buggers and clouser minnows in a few colors. It seems like those two patterns mght be all I will need as far as streamers.

edit: I'm mostly interested in streamers for trout, but am also interested in bass streamer patterns.

Tie some Llamas. Not only will you catch a lot of fish, you'll probably be the only guy in the county fishing them. This helps you catch even more fish.

The only drawback is you have to find some woodchuck fur, either by purchasing it retail or finding one so despondent he recently committed suicide either by motor vehicle or by deliberately putting himself in the path of a 50 grain hollow point.

I'm not much of a streamer guy. I do have several patterns that I don't think are technically streamers that work well when fished as streamers. Maybe this is an area where the fish are a bit more aggressive and something different can be a benefit. DC410 already mentioned one of my favorites in the Picket Pin. I also like the Casual Dress, and the Hornberg. The casual dress tied in a #10 or 12 makes a very good imitation of a small minnow. I'll dead drift through a hole, swing, and then short strip back along the edge of the hole. The Hornberg is a sort of fly of last resort for me these days, but it has saved a few days for me. One of my winter projects this year is going to be a set of classic bucktails.Mike.